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What should I bring?

We will be living in a field camp for the duration of the field school's eight-week session. For some of you, this will be a new experience, and for most of you, this will be longest camping trip of your life. I have spent nearly four years of my life living in archaeological field camps and have narrowed down my list of field equipment to a set of key items. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but will cover the basic things I will be bringing to the field this summer. Please note that items in the highlighted portion of the list ARE required.

Digging equipment ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO GET EACH OF THESE ITEMS

Marshalltown brand masonry trowel (The brand is important, I think, and Marshalltown is the best get a size 5 or 6 diamond-shaped trowel. These can be purchased at most hardware stores (e.g., Home Depot, ACE), just ask).

a metal file (get a "bastard file", yes, it's actually called that) for sharpening your metal trowel (just smile and ignore the hardware store help that tells you that sharpening a masonry trowel is crazy)

pencils, pens, eraser, small ruler, plastic protractor

wooden sculpting tool for excavating bone, shell, and other fragile items (or, you can just get a pair of wooden chopsticks, or sharpen a wooden dowel or hardwood stick to a point)

new (i.e., unused) small synthetic fiber paint brush (1" or 2" width)

a pair of work gloves (leather ones are better than the rubber covered cotton gloves)